The El Paso Municipal Police Officers’ Association encourages area residents to participate in “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” (L.E.A.D.) today, Friday, January 09, 2015. This is a national day of support for law enforcement officers.
For more information on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, please click here to watch the public service announcement.
The following is a news release from Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.), which is the organizer of the event.
On Friday, January 9th, 2015, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.) and partnering organizations will unite in support of law enforcement officers nationwide to promote a National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.). In light of recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally, there is a need to show law enforcement officers that our citizens recognize the difficult and sometimes impossible career they have chosen, in public service to us all.
Can you imagine going to work each day and wondering if you’ll survive your shift and see your family that night? Most people can’t. But in law enforcement, this is a fact of life. Each day 780,000 police officers across our country put on a badge and go to work knowing they may face extremely dangerous situations. Yet, they go to work anyway. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a job, it is a calling. The pay is low, the hours can be terrible, and there is sometimes little appreciation for what they do. Yet, they do it anyway.
What the public doesn’t see is the toll law enforcement takes to keep our communities safe. On average, between 105 and 203 officers die in the line of duty each year, 50,000 officers are assaulted in the line of duty each year, 14,000 officers are injured in the line of duty each year, and over 300 officers commit suicide each year. There is no other profession in the world, except possibly the military, where you will find these kinds of statistics.
On January 9th, we call our nation’s citizens to action in support of law enforcement. Those citizens who appreciate law enforcement and are discouraged about the negative attention being given to law enforcement are encouraged to take time on Friday, January 9th to show their support. Our citizens can show their support in a number of ways:
Change your profile picture on social media to the .jpg image attached to this event.
See a police officer? Thank a police officer.
Wear blue clothing in support of law enforcement.
Send a card of support to your local police department or state agency.
Share a positive story about a positive law enforcement experience on social media.
Ask children in your community to write letters in support of law enforcement.
Participate in Project Blue Light. Proudly display a blue light at your residence in support of law enforcement.
Organize an event or a rally in support of your law enforcement officers.
Advertise your support through local media outlets/billboards.
Post the public service announcement supplied by C.O.P.S. to your law enforcement’s webpage or social media pages.
For more information click here to visit the Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.) website.
The El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association is taking the L.E.A.D. -- we ask that you do he same and support our area law enforcement officers. THANK YOU!
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